Morocco Unveils Three Programs to Enhance Competitiveness in the Craft Industry
The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy has introduced three ambitious programs with the aim of fortifying the competitiveness of participants in the country's artisanal sector.
These initiatives are seen as integral components of the government's overarching strategy to unleash the considerable potential of the kingdom's crafts industry. This sector currently employs approximately one-fifth of the workforce and contributes about 7% to the national GDP.
The central pillar of this initiative, the "Excellence Program," will concentrate on optimizing the structure of production units to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. Simultaneously, the export support component aims to facilitate artisans' access to international markets. The third aspect of the plan seeks to strengthen aggregation abilities, enabling artisans to realize economies of scale.
Minister A, speaking at the launch, provided compelling figures: "Morocco boasts over 2.3 million artisans engaged in nearly 300 distinct crafts," she disclosed. "The time has come to professionalize."
While industry leaders have lauded these schemes, some believe that more comprehensive measures are needed to address issues such as training and access to credit. Y, the President of the National Crafts Council, expressed optimism, stating, "It marks a positive starting point, but addressing concerns like training and credit access is just the tip of the iceberg. We are hopeful that additional measures will follow suit."